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Tag: Meadow

Meadow Rabbit

The magic of early mornings. You never know what you might discover.

One early morning in June, I planned to ride my bicycle and capture bird photos. I awoke around 6 AM, loaded my trusty e-bike into the back of Bhavna's Acura, and drove off to Mercer Meadows, a scenic park with biking routes through 1600+ acres of meadows and woodlands. But I hit a snag.

As I unfolded my e-bike at the park, I suddenly realised I had forgotten the keys to the batteries. I removed the batteries to lighten the e-bike before lifting it into the trunk. Those keys were crucial for locking the batteries back in place. I was disappointed. But hey, no worries, right?

I was wandering through Mercer Meadows, enjoying the sweetness of the air. You know, that time of year when everything's in bloom, the sun's just peeking over the horizon, and the world's still quiet?

I had my Fuji X-T3 camera and Fujinon XF150-600mmF5.6-8 R LM OIS WR lens, hoping to snap some pictures of birds, maybe a butterfly or two. I love that kind of stuff. But as I'm walking down this beaten path, I spot something out of the corner of my eye. There, in the grassy field, a flash of movement. My heart skipped a beat, thinking I'd spotted some rare bird. But no, it was something else.

I crept closer, trying not to spook whatever it was. And as I got nearer, I could see it clearer: a rabbit, just nibbling on some grass, ears perked up and nose twitching. My camera was ready, so I clicked away to capture the moment. But the whole time, I wondered: What kind of rabbit1? I might know something about birds, but I'm no rabbit expert. They all look pretty similar to me.

I must've spent a good half hour just watching this little guy, pondering the mysteries of rabbit identification. But it didn't matter. The sun was climbing higher, the dew was evaporating, and I was sharing a quiet morning with nature. Eventually, I moved on.

That rabbit, that meadow, that morning - they all told a story of life waking up and starting a new day. Sometimes, it's not about identifying every creature or capturing the perfect shot. Sometimes, it's just about being there, at the moment, and appreciating the simple beauty of life.

Who would've thought a little rabbit in Mercer Meadows could be so exciting? But that's the magic of early mornings. You never know what you might discover.

  1. I later discovered that the New England cottontail (Sylvilagus transitionalis) is the only rabbit native to New Jersey and is considered an important part of the state's natural heritage. This species has a distinct appearance with a short, fluffy tail and dense, coarse fur that provides effective camouflage. It also has large, rounded ears for detecting sounds and threats. ↩

Blue-eyed Native

It's that time of the year again (May) - the sun is shining, birds are singing, and the "container garden meadow" on my patio is bursting with life like a group of enthusiastic skydivers jumping off a plane!

It's that time of the year again (May) - the sun is shining, birds are singing, and the "container garden meadow" on my patio is bursting with life like a group of enthusiastic skydivers jumping off a plane!

I live in a townhome community where the garden soils are rockier1 than in a Stallone movie, and native plants are about as rare as a unicorn. And don't even get me started on the landscaping crew, who seem to have a feud against anything not purchased at a Home Depot Garden Center or the ever-hungry deer who treat my lovely little garden like I'm running a free salad bar.

But I refused to be defeated! Sometimes inspiration strikes in the oddest of places. I stumbled upon an article called "Container Gardening with Native Plants" on the Missouri Botanical Garden website, and a lightbulb went off in my head. With creativity and the simplicity of container gardening, I planted a thriving meadow outside my patio door.

Sisyrinchium angustifolium, or blue-eyed grass as it's commonly known, is a New Jersey native. Its grass-like foliage (for which it's named) may fool some, but it's actually a member of the iris family. This simple clump-forming perennial produces stunning violet-blue flowers with yellow eyes in the spring, which grow on flattened, branched stems. S. angustifolium used to go by the name S. bermudianum. The plant is indigenous to the British Overseas Territory of Bermuda hence the bermudianum in the former name.

I excitedly showed Bhavna my latest gardening triumph. It's taken some time and effort, but she agrees that my gardening skills are on point.

  1. Believe it or not, the neighbouring borough is called Rocky Hill! ?

Sun-Kissed Meadow Beauty

Dandelions are hardy and can grow almost anywhere, even in poor soil. I love seeing the bright yellow flowers in fields, lawns, and gardens.

As I finished my walk through Zion Crossing Park and headed back to the car, Bhavna called. We had only one car, and I had the car for the day. She was ready to get picked up from work.

The sun from behind the clouds cast its bright light on the small meadow. The grass was invaded with colonies of dandelions. Dandelions are hardy and can grow almost anywhere, even in poor soil. I love seeing the bright yellow flowers in fields, lawns, and gardens.

Many see dandelions as a nuisance, as they can quickly spread and take over a lawn or garden. But dandelions are beautiful. Lawns are stupid, vain, useless and wasteful. But dandelions have anti-inflammatory properties and can treat various ailments, such as indigestion, high blood pressure, and acne. The root can be roasted and used as a caffeine-free coffee substitute.

Dandelions are edible! The leaves can be used in salads or cooked like spinach, while the flowers can be used to make dandelion wine or even fritters. I would love to try that, but the lawns in my development are not a good source. The association landscaping maintenance crew sprays everything with a pesticide.

There is a small covered picnic table on the meadow amongst the dandelions. I keep reminding myself to pack a basket and do a late afternoon lunch with Bhavna.